Crying poor environmental review seems to be the hot way to try and stop Brooklyn developments of late. Just as Develop Don't Destory Brooklyn is attempting to slow the Atlantic Yards project because of misrepresentations in its enviromental impact statement another group of Brooklynites is using a similar tactic to try and halt the massive development planned for the old Domino Sugar refinery (which got City Council approval back in June after much community opposition). more ›

After getting voted down by the local Community Board in Williamsburg, the New Domino residential development has won unanimous approval from the City Planning Commission, which voted 13-0 in favor of the ambitious plans today. In a statement, the developer said the project "will now advance for final consideration by the New York City Council. The plan reflects several years of intensive effort to insure that The New Domino—with its 660 units of affordable housing, extensive public parks, access to the waterfront and quarter-mile waterfront esplanade, connections to the existing street system and restored historic landmark refinery—is a vital and contributing part of the community, not an isolated island apart from it." But City Council approval is no lock; freshman City Council member Steve Levin represents the area and is against the project, mainly due to its density. more ›

Today the City Planning Commission is holding a public hearing on a developer's plan to spend $1.2 billion transforming the vacant 11-acre Domino site in Williamsburg into a residential complex with a public waterfront esplanade and 2,200 apartments. (The project was recently rejected by the local Community Board.) Reporter Benjamin Lozovsky has been covering it closely, and his latest critical article in the Williamsburg Greenpoint News is a must-read. It's about ten billion words long, so we haven't made it all the way to the bottom yet, but so far it's the most thorough examination of the controversial project we've read. Did you know that the developer funnels money to a local Roman Catholic church, whose leader buses congregants to community meetings, giving them talking points provided by the developer? Read on... more ›

After receiving a resounding rejection from the local Community Board last week, another blow was dealt last night to an ambitious $1.2-billion plan to turn the landmark Domino Sugar Refinery site in Williamsburg into a residential complex with 2,200 apartments and four acres of public park on the waterfront. At a public hearing held by Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz, freshman City Council member Steve Levin came out against the project, which could spell much bigger trouble for developers than the Community Board's vote, because Council members typically defer to the local councilmember on land-use issues. At last night's hearing, an aide read from a statement explaining Levin's objections: more ›

With a local Community Board vote expected later this month, the developers behind the Domino Sugar Refinery project invited the media on a tour of the Williamsburg site yesterday morning. While we had hoped that the tour would afford us Wonka-esque access to the vast refinery interior, the almighty insurance companies made damn sure the deteriorating structure remained off-limits. But they sent over some interior photos today, explaining that "the majority of the buildings are filled with large machinery, much of which spans multiple floors. Also, the majority of the buildings do not have solid floors, and instead, machinery is connected to walls and pillars with cat-walks and metal flooring." Enough—can't you see you're torturing Jake Dobkin! more ›

Last night marked the official start to the long, eight month public review process for the mixed-use residential and retail development proposed at Williamsburg's old Domino Sugar Refinery. As the Brooklyn Paper reports, it did not go so well for the developer behind the $1.2-billion project, which would transform the vacant 11-acre industrial site into a complex with 2,200 apartments, 30% of which would be set aside for low- and moderate-income families, plus a waterfront esplanade. more ›

There hasn't been much news in a while on the status of the ambitious, mixed-use development planned for the former Domino Sugar refinery on the South Side of Williamsburg. You'll recall that for years now a developer has been planning to build a massive residential and retail development at the site of the landmarked plant, but it was an open question as to how the tanking housing market would affect the plans. Well, turns out the project is entering the public review phase, possibly facing the local community board this month. Here are some new renderings! more ›

It's been a while since there's been any movement on developer Michael Lappin's plans to turn the decaying old Domino factory in Williamsburg into a 2,200-unit residential and retail complex. Could it be the $1.3 billion project is being scaled back or abandoned, seeing as how the economy went down and hung itself in America's dank basement? The developer insists all systems are go, despite the fact that some of the banks underwriting the project have gone bust, and the real estate market is hobbled. Now some community groups and officials opposed to the plans are calling this an opportunity to reconsider the project, which some say will overwhelm the already stained public transportation system and parking situation. Assemblyman Joe Lentol tells the Observer, "We have now an opportunity to negotiate. They may be able to see the light and redesign the project so that it's more amenable to the community." Lappin says he expects to file the land use application with the city soon, and then the project will undergo the crucial public review phase. more ›

The plan to turn the disused Domino Sugar Refinery site in South Williamsburg into a housing complex with nine residential towers, 2,200 apartments and 30,000 square feet of retail space is moving forward despite the economic downturn, optomistic developer Michael Lappin insists. You'll recall how back in June the Landmarks Preservation Commission approved revised plans for the $1.2 billion development, which promised to preserve the site's iconic sign. Of course, that was before everything went up in flames. more ›

Yesterday the Domino Sugar Factory opened up their waterfront space to the public for an Open House of sorts, but much to the dismay of those who showed up the buildings were not accessible (likely because they're unsafe, with old machinery around and floors are covered in mollases). The rendering for the future Domino homes can be seen here, and for those who still want to take a gander at the current indoor space, some photos from last year are here. more ›

The waterfront property at the Domino Sugar Factory in Williamsburg will be open to the public for the first time in over a century this Sunday. Refinery, LLC, the developer who plans to convert the landmarked refinery into residential units, is inviting everyone over for free refreshments and a chance to take in the East River views. The plan is to have more of these events in the spring and give the community a taste of what's to come when developer completes a planned five-block-long esplanade on the property. more ›

After reviewing a new design that one commissioner promised would “rival the Tate,” the Landmarks Preservation Commission approved revised plans for a massive residential and retail development at the disused Domino Sugar Refinery in Williamsburg. One bit of good news is that the iconic Domino sign, which had been missing from previous designs, is now preserved. Brownstoner was liveblogging the hearing and reports that LPC chairman Robert Tierney called it a "brilliant adaptive plan." Groundbreaking is expected to occur in the fall of 2009. See more approved renderings here, none of which beat the gingerbread designs. more ›

Michael Lappin, CEO of the managing company for what is being called the "New Domino", responded yesterday to our questions about the proposed project via email.

The iconic Domino Sugar sign is not included in these renderings. [We photoshopped it back in, above.] Is there any plan to preserve that somewhere at the site? We are making every effort to save the sign. We are looking at different engineering solutions regarding the “where and how.” It’s a complex problem.

More detailed images of the proposed development at the landmarked Domino Refinery in south Williamsburg have emerged; the biggest news is that developers plan to build a five-story glass addition on top of the Filter House (above), the tallest structure at the refinery, which has been closed since 2004. According to plans revealed by architects Beyer Blinder Belle, the modified refinery would have 1,550 underground parking spaces, 30,000 square feet of retail space, an interior courtyard and “community facilities” on several floors. more ›